Bruce Ely, The OregonianSergio Rodriguez shoots during the Blazers' loss to Houston in Game 1 of the playoffs.

It sure looked and sounded like the end of the Sergio Rodriguez era in Portland when the Trail Blazers backup point guard packed his belongings with the rest of his teammates and left the team's practice facility for the summer.

This time, Rodriguez knew it could be for good.

Although Rodriguez was happy, and reflected on his third season with fondness, he said a trade is not only something he would welcome, but something he halfway expects this summer.

"Something has to happen," Rodriguez said. "I can't be here forever, with the same situation. I've been here three years and I'm in the same position I was in my first week. It's the same situation over and over and over."

Rodriguez played in 80 games, including 13 starts when Steve Blake injured his shoulder, and averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 assists in 15 minutes a game. His role was diminished in the first round playoff series against Houston, when he averaged just more than five minutes while appearing in five of the six games.

Debate over Rodriguez and his playing time has flourished ever since his rookie year, when he had 23 points and 10 assists in a January game against Denver. His proponents argue that he is the team's best pick-and-roll point guard, yet he never plays long enough to make an impact. Indeed, his 11.2 assists per 48 minutes this season ranked 7th in the NBA behind noted point guards Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Jose Calderon, Rajon Rondo and Jason Kidd.

But coach Nate McMillan points to Rodriguez's poor shooting - he made 39.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three-point range - and suspect defense as reasons why he doesn't see more time.

McMillan and Rodriguez have had countless conversations over the years about his role, including one early this season when Rodriguez's agent in Spain (he also has an agent in the states) raised eyebrows by requesting an immediate trade. Rodriguez was embarrassed by the commotion over his agent's request, and teammates say he never became a cancer or distraction on the team.

However, Rodriguez now feels like he has reached an impasse with McMillan.

"He's a really good coach, he's tough, and I learn from him," Rodriguez said. "But I think I'm not his kind of player. He doesn't feel comfortable with me. I mean, I think that's obvious."

As a result, he spoke last week of his time in Portland in the past tense.

"I don't know what will happen, but whatever happens, I want to say thank you to Portland for everything," Rodriguez said. "Their support, even when things come from my agent, telling them to trade me, everybody - everybody, not one exception - was good to me. It's my home in the states, and I will always have a good vision of Portland."

Told that he was speaking as if he was already leaving Portland, Rodriguez said that wasn't his intent, but at the same time, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled uneasily.

He brought up Houston reserve Von Wafer as an example of a player whose fortunes changed with his scenery. Wafer was a fringe NBA player his first three seasons, hardly playing with the Lakers, Clippers, Denver or Portland, before getting his shot with the Rockets. This season, Wafer played in 68 games, averaging 9.7 points in 19 minutes.

Plus, Rodriguez noted, the Blazers won 54 games this season.

"We are co-champions of our division, tied for second best record in West ... they don't have to change what they are doing. It's working," Rodriguez said.

Just not for him.

Still, he was in a markedly different mood last week than at the end of last season, when he was depressed and questioning whether basketball was fun anymore. He said the final month of the season, when he regained his backup role from rookie Jerryd Bayless and helped the team win 10 of its final 11 games, was the most fun he has had in the NBA.

"I didn't even play that much, but I had my role. I knew I would play in the first half, and I knew I would play in the second half, and I knew I could make mistakes," Rodriguez said. "Even if I do or not, I got the chance to commit those mistakes. That was important."

The problem, Rodriguez said, is he doesn't see that role expanding much next season, mainly because he doesn't feel McMillan values his style of play. He said that style is "more free" than he has been allowed here.

"Coach and me - we see basketball different," Rodriguez said, who will earn just less than $2 million next season, the last on his contract. "I'm not saying the coach has to have the same vision in basketball, but we have to have the ability to adjust to each other. I think we don't adjust."

McMillan was asked whether he felt the two had different views on the game. He was unsure how to answer, and when told that Rodriguez felt they did differ, he made light of the situation.

"Yeah, because I sub him and he doesn't know why," McMillan said smiling. "But I guess we do. I don't think so ... I can't say ... Maybe we do. There are things I want him to do, or I want the second unit to do, and sometimes it's not on him. Sometimes I'm subbing him not because of what he did out on the floor, but that unit and the combinations we need to get on the floor to get what we need at that particular time."

McMillan said he told Rodriguez in his exit interview that he did feel comfortable with him on the court, but that he needed to work on two areas: shooting and defense.

"I think he needs to shoot, shoot, shoot," McMillan said. "I think defensively, he got better at times this season, but he probably needed more consistency there."

If, or when, that consistency comes, Rodriguez doubts it will be in Portland.

"I really enjoyed playing here, playing in the Rose Garden," Rodriguez said. "I got here and it was my dream, to play in the NBA. There is always disappointment in what I can do better, what they can do better, what everybody can do better. I have a different style. But I'm not mad, that is not the word, frustrated. That's what it is. I'm frustrated and disappointed for not having done more.